Color coded key cards

[coffeebean]

The Freestyle 2.0 upgrades include color coded key cards for "identification". I can only imagine that this is to identify the type of cabin a passenger is in. I don't like this idea. After a time, other passengers, not only the crew, will be able to identify the type of cabin their fellow passengers are in.

 

What are your thought on this???

[ohioNCLcruiser]

It would be interesting to see if they are talking about the new random color key cards that they have now or a more inside=red oceanview=blue balcony=green etc system.

 

james

[JWestShuh]

I agree with you. Everyone talks about how cruising is a classless experience, but I think this will take this away. I am trying to find out the benefits of knowing that my husband and I will be in an inside vs the table next to us who have theoretically a balcony. So they have a different room category...will this mean better service? I guess we'll see.

[Ohio_Thom]

We just returned from our Christmas cruise. Each of us had different color key cards. There was no rhyme or reason to the colors, it was luck of the draw. I though that they did it just to add some color to the boring old key cards...:confused:

[WinterSky]

Interestingly, I had a similar thought about the color coded key cards. My understanding is that different cabin categories will have different colors.

 

I wonder if there is a specific use for the coding other than what these comments have suggested. Perhaps the color codes will expedite escorting passengers to their cabins during embarkation since I believe one of the Freestyle 2 changes involves passengers in balcony and mini suite cabins being escorted to their cabins. Or it could assist with passenger head counts during emergency evacuations... hard to say.

 

My concern, however, is that the color coding has potential to impact patron access to dining reservations etc. and service quality.

 

Ummmm....

[atlasali]

We just got off the Pearl. We had 3 different colored cards. Daughter who is 22 was afraid that her radically different colored card signaled that she was underage. So I asked. I was told that the colors were random.

[WinterSky]

The following is an excerpt from the NCL Website Press Release Page and it clearly indicates a purpose for at least some of the color key cards...

 

Press Releases

 

Norwegian Cruise Line Announces Significant Enhancements to Its Onboard Product as Part of Its Freestyle 2.0 Initiative

Miami - Dec 20, 2007 ---

 

NCL will immediately begin to roll out Freestyle 2.0 fleet wide. Highlights of the different onboard initiatives include:

......

 

Balcony and mini suites

• A distinctive colored key card for ship wide recognition;

[JWestShuh]

If they were random, can I ask what the point is? Just to make it pretty and different? That's cool I guess.

[Ohio_Thom]

If they were random, can I ask what the point is? Just to make it pretty and different? That's cool I guess.

 

Not sure here...

 

We were on deck 9 inside. 2 cabins with all different color keys. I really didn't pay attention to the other keys.

[WinterSky]

After giving comments on this thread and the whole topic some consideration, I don't think that it is necessarily a negative thing to have color coded key cards.

 

The Freestyle 2 program appears to simply be an expansion of the current ship system. Currently, the highest level accommodations have exclusive access to specific amenities including use of specialty restaurants during certain times. I expect that the key cards for these passengers have an indication of their accommodations.

 

In the end, it comes down to a matter of choice as passengers may purchase the level of accommodation (and related 'perks') that suit their individual needs, tastes and budget.

 

Just my thoughts...:)

[Jiminkcmo]

I am just so stressed out about what someone else might think if they see the color of my card.

 

They might think that somehow I shouldn't be on the ship or something.

 

They might think that I smell and not want to get near me.

 

Maybe I should have some t-shirts printed up with my personal balance sheet printed on my chest.

 

Then people could judge me on something other than my card color.

 

<G>

 

People, don't take life so seriously, it isn't permanent.

 

Jim

[PattyW]

RCCL color codes your cards based upon your status in their Crown & Anchor loyalty program. Your first card is blue, then on your next cruise your card is gold, then platinum, then diamond (I'm not there yet so I don't know what they look like) and I suppose something special for diamond plus.

 

My kids cards are always blue though - although that may have changed since they initiated the kids' loyalty program. We haven't cruised since then.

 

I think that kind of color coding is fine and not stigmatizing to anyone, and if you get better service because you are a diamond plus passenger, well maybe that's warranted since you've sailed on the line so often (maybe in an inside cabin every time, but still . . .)

[Ohio_Thom]

They might think that I smell and not want to get near me.

 

That could be a new way to get a deck chair near the pool? ;):D

 

[CrusinCouple]

Just returned...at check in we each recieved different color keys...I thought it was tied to Latitudes so I asked...was told, its random.

 

To confirm this...DH deactivated his key 2x, and each time recieved a different color...and samething happened to me, and I got a different color.

 

I guess its random right now...

[cruise4kicks]

Just a guess, but I'm thinking that they'll want to run through the current inventory of blank key cards before phasing in the new color-coded key cards.

[coffeebean]

We just returned from our Christmas cruise. Each of us had different color key cards. There was no rhyme or reason to the colors, it was luck of the draw. I though that they did it just to add some color to the boring old key cards...:confused:

 

Here is a link to the announcement of Freestyle 2.0. Make note what it says under "balcony and mini suites". Eventually, the different colored key cards WILL identify the different cabin categories...

 

http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20071219006036&newsLang=en

[coffeebean]

I am just so stressed out about what someone else might think if they see the color of my card.

 

They might think that somehow I shouldn't be on the ship or something.

 

They might think that I smell and not want to get near me.

 

Maybe I should have some t-shirts printed up with my personal balance sheet printed on my chest.

 

Then people could judge me on something other than my card color.

 

<G>

 

People, don't take life so seriously, it isn't permanent.

 

Jim

 

Hello Jim...

 

LOL. At first I thought you were serious, then I saw your signature.

[WinterSky]

I am just so stressed out about what someone else might think if they see the color of my card.

 

They might think that somehow I shouldn't be on the ship or something.

 

They might think that I smell and not want to get near me.

 

Maybe I should have some t-shirts printed up with my personal balance sheet printed on my chest.

 

Then people could judge me on something other than my card color.

 

<G>

 

People, don't take life so seriously, it isn't permanent.

 

Jim

 

Still laughing!:)

[Just call me Goddess]

I heard from some friends that OS and courtyard villas are all the same color on the Gem.

 

I am sailing 1/5 I will get to the bottom and report back in!

 

KC

[WinterSky]

Just a guess, but I'm thinking that they'll want to run through the current inventory of blank key cards before phasing in the new color-coded key cards.

 

I wonder if NCL always had random color key cards in the past or if they are a recent change. I work in strategic marketing and graphic communications and my instincts tell me that random color key cards may be part of the transition to a color coded system.

 

In any case, since I enjoy studying various marketing and client care approaches, I will watch for any new "shades" of this topic from our balcony cabin on the Gem in March.

 

Can't wait to go!:)

[runnerandme]

I think some of this color coding and escort to you room for balcony and mini suite guests is a way to ignore the fact that they are taking away concierge service from minis and to put the mimis in with the balcony room catagory. Make a negative appear positive..Let them think they are getting something special when really they are just demoting the status of the minisuites.

[Globaliser]

If they were random, can I ask what the point is? Just to make it pretty and different? That's cool I guess.

I got the distinct impression that the current random colours are part of the Freestyle concept: everyone's different and can do their own thing - so no regimented colours to your key cards either.

 

But of course, that will now change.

Everyone talks about how cruising is a classless experience, but I think this will take this away.

People may talk about it, but cruising has not been a classless experience for years. All recent big ships have had certain facilities, services and benefits that are only available to certain cabin grades - a different class (or classes) in all but name.

 

Mind you, there is another sense in which cruising sometimes seems "classless" these days ... ;)

[2boyzmom]

I think some of this color coding and escort to you room for balcony and mini suite guests is a way to ignore the fact that they are taking away concierge service from minis and to put the mimis in with the balcony room catagory. Make a negative appear positive..Let them think they are getting something special when really they are just demoting the status of the minisuites.

 

I totally agree.

[coffeebean]

I heard from some friends that OS and courtyard villas are all the same color on the Gem.

 

I am sailing 1/5 I will get to the bottom and report back in!

 

KC

 

Thanks Goddess. Looking forward to your full report.

[AFT_LOVER]

I am guessing the color of the week is for that cruise & the next one will have different colors. RCCL has large DIAMOND on our card & instant friends from strangers to get freebies with us. So do not have it exposed for strangers to see.

 

 

 

It would be interesting to see if they are talking about the new random color key cards that they have now or a more inside=red oceanview=blue balcony=green etc system.

 

james